All-star (also All-Star) is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry.

Sports

"All-star" as a sports refers to an individual named as an "all-star" on a team representing the top performers in a given sport, or to a list of top participants in individual sports such as golf and bowling. Events limited to such honorees are referred to as "all-star games" or events.

In American team sports the premier all-star games are the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, NBA All-Star Game, Pro Bowl, NHL All-Star Game, and the MLS All-Star Game. Many all-star teams, such as collegiate "all-conference" and All-America squads, are recognitions of performance only, with no intent of those selected ever performing together in a contest.

Entertainment

Cinema

The term all-star is often used as a form of ballyhoo to promote the cast of a movie in which high profile motion picture stars appear, often merely in cameo roles. Well-recognized examples include Grand Hotel (1932), Dinner at Eight (1933), and *Ocean's Eleven'' (1960).

Sources

Everything you ever wanted to know about allstar selection

Portuguese All-stars

World Wide All Star Socializing Web Site

Category:Sports terminology Category:Film and video terminology Category:Musical terminology

Name	Roddy Piper
Names	Roddy Piper
Weight	better known by his ring name "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, is a Canadian former professional wrestler and film actor currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment. Though being Canadian, due to his Scottish heritage he was billed as coming from Glasgow, Scotland and was known for his signature kilt and bagpipe entrance music. He earned the nickname "Rowdy" by displaying his trademark "Scottish" rage, spontaneity and quick wit, and despite being a crowd favorite for his rockstar-like persona, often played the villain; he was also nicknamed "Hot Rod". Never a world champion, he accumulated thirty-four championships in various promotions during his career. Piper was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.

Category:1954 births Category:Canadian film actors Category:Canadian professional wrestlers Category:Canadian sportspeople of Scottish descent Category:Cancer patients Category:Living people Category:People from Hillsboro, Oregon Category:People from Saskatoon Category:Professional wrestling executives Category:Professional wrestling managers and valets Category:Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Category:Sportspeople from Saskatchewan Category:WWE Hall of Fame Category:Canadian immigrants to the United States

Name	Nando Reis
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	José Fernando Gomes dos Reis
Born	January 12, 1963
Instrument	vocals, bass guitar, acoustic guitar
Genre	Rock
Occupation	Singer, composer, songwriter, producer
Years active	1984–present
Associated acts	Os Camarões Nando Reis e os Infernais Titãs
Url	nandoreis.terra.com.br/

Nando Reis (, born on January 12, 1963) is a Brazilian musician and producer, best known as the former bassist and lead singer of Brazilian rock band Titãs and for his successful solo career, with his own band called Os Infernais. He has also produced a few albums, including some related to Cássia Eller, who has made several significant partnerships with him, and Marisa Monte.

Childhood

Nando Reis was born in the early sixties to Cecília Leonel and José Carlos Galvão Gomes dos Reis. He was given his prename "José" just like his brothers, José Carlos, the oldest of the children, and José Luiz (who was deaf), the younger. His two sisters also shared the same prenames: Maria Cecília, the older, and Maria Luiza, the youngest of the five.

His mother was an acoustic guitar teacher and his father was an engineer. José Carlos taught him a little bit of Rock 'n' Roll, showing him Rolling Stones's album Between the Buttons. Maria Cecília taught him to play the acoustic guitar and took him to a show of Gal Costa and Gilberto Gil.

He was given his first acoustic guitar by his grandmother, at the age of 7, and was taught his first chords by his sister. However, most of his skills were acquired alone, when he learned songs of Caetano Veloso all by himself.

Some friends of José Carlos played in a rock band. Once, he took Nando to a small performance at the garage of the bassist house. Impressed with the solos of the guitarist, he asked him to teach him, but he never made it. He also tried the drums, but gave up. He decided then to play the bass guitar, as his attempts to play the electric guitar and the drums failed. Other artists, such as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Alice Cooper kept joining his main influences. At the age of eleven, he had classes of classic guitar and harmony with Alexandre ("Maranhão"), a friend of José Carlos. His first compositions were all based on poems. Most of them were long, showing his appreciation for long songs.

In 1978, he entered Equipe School. There, he formed a band called "Os Camarões" with some friends, and managed to win a local music festival. When he met Paulo Miklos and Arnaldo Antunes, who took part of the festival, he made the first compositions with what would later become Titãs. When the high school was over, he waited three years to pass the Mathematics vestibular. Even though Titãs where already planning their first show, the university occupied most of his time. Therefore, he decided to quit it.

Career with Titãs

In 1982, Titãs (at that time "Titãs do Iê-Iê") made their first live presentation. They recorded several tapes and sent them to recording labels until they signed up with Warner Music label. In 1984, Titãs released their first album, Titãs, and Nando played the bass guitar in some tracks although initially he was supposed to be a backing vocalist only. In the later eighties, Titãs caught a plane to London, for their first international show. On June 19, 1989, his mother Cecília died of Cancer.

In the early nineties, he started producing his first albums, with artists like Marisa Monte and Cássia Eller. In 1995, he recorded his first solo album, 12 de Janeiro. In 2000, Titãs changed to Abril Music, and after recording As Dez Mais in Seattle, Nando released his second solo album, Para Quando o Arco-Íris Encontrar o Pote de Ouro, with some special participations like Cássia Eller, Rogério Fausino (from Jota Quest) and Peter Buck (from R.E.M.).

On June 13, 2001, Titãs' guitarist Marcelo Fromer died after being rammed by a motorcycle (see Marcelo Fromer's Death). On December 29, he lost another friend: Cássia Eller. In 2002, he released Infernal, his third solo work. He then decided to leave Titãs on September 7, 2002.

Solo career

In 2003, he released his fourth album, A Letra A. He followed that up by releasing the successful Mtv-produced live album with his band Os Infernais (MTV Ao Vivo), and in early 2006, released another studio album, Sim e Não. This was followed by another Mtv-produced live album with Os Infernais (Lual MTV). His most recent studio album, entitled Drês includes several personal songs: "Conta", a tribute to his mother, and "Só Pra So", another tribute for his daughter Sophia, as well as "Pra Você", a duet with Ana Cañas. His cover version of "Eu Nasci Há Dez Mil Anos Atrás", a song by Raul Seixas, was featured in the Rede Globo telenovela Caminho das Índias soundtrack.

Personal life

Nando Reis was married twice. The first marriage was with Vânia Passos, a former classmate, and the wedding took place on February 14, 1985. His four children are Theodoro Passos Reis, born on January 16, 1986, Sophia Passos Reis, born on July 1, 1988, Sebastião, born on May 13, 1995, and Zoe Passos Reis, born on September 27, 1999. In September 2003, he finished his marriage with Vânia, and married Anna some months later. In November 2005, he finished his second marriage.

His daughter Sophia Reis is a VJ in MTV Brasil. She has also worked as actress and starred the film Meu Tio Matou um Cara.

Discography

With Titãs

Solo Albums (with Os Infernais)

12 de Janeiro (1995)

Para Quando o Arco-Íris Encontrar o Pote de Ouro (2000)

Infernal (2001)

A Letra A (2003)

MTV Ao Vivo (2005- 2x Gold, 2x Platinum)

Sim e Não (2006)

Luau MTV (2007 - Gold, Platinum)

Drês (2009)

Albums Produced by him

Ben Jor – Jorge Ben Jor (1989)

Vange – Vange Leonel (1991)

NOMAD – Nomad (1994)

Maskavo Roots (1995)

Com Você...Meu Mundo Ficaria Completo – Cássia Eller (1999)

Acústico MTV – Cássia Eller (2001)

Dez de Dezembro – Tribute to Cássia Eller (2002)

Squadra – Squadra (2002)

Guest appearances

References

Nando Reis' official home page

External links

Official Website Titãs Official Website Official Fan Club

Category:1963 births Category:1980s singers Category:1990s singers Category:2000s singers Category:2010s singers Category:Living people Category:Brazilian bass guitarists Category:Brazilian guitarists Category:Brazilian singers Category:Brazilian composers Category:Brazilian songwriters Category:Brazilian rock musicians Category:Titãs members Category:Brazilian record producers Category:Brazilian atheists Category:Portuguese-language singers

Name	John Cena
Names	John CenaMr. P
Weight
Billed	Classified (UPW) (; born April 23, 1977) is an American actor, rapper, and professional wrestler employed by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on its Raw brand. He is currently inactive, due to injury.
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Filename	John Cena and Tha Trademarc - The Time Is Now.ogg
Title	"The Time is Now" by John Cena & Tha Trademarc (2005)
Description	Sample from "The Time Is Now" by John Cena & Tha Trademarc.
Format	Ogg}}

In addition to his wrestling career, Cena is a hip hop musician. Cena performed his fifth WWE theme song, "Basic Thugonomics," himself, and it was featured on the WWE soundtrack album WWE Originals. He also recorded a song,"Untouchables", for the company's next soundtrack album . He collaborated on the song along with MURS, E-40, and Chingo Bling.

Cena's debut album, You Can't See Me, was recorded with his cousin Tha Trademarc. It features, amongst other songs, his entrance theme, "The Time is Now", and the single "Bad, Bad Man", for which a music video was made that parodied 1980s culture, including the television show The A-Team. A video was also made for the second single, "Right Now," and premiered on the August 8 Raw. Cena and Tha Trademarc were later featured on a track by The Perceptionists named "Champion Scratch." Promotion for the album lead to Cena being the only professional wrestler to ever perform on BBC Two's long running Top of the Pops.

;Albums

You Can't See Me

* Released: May 10, 2005

Chart positions: 15 U.S. Billboard 200, 10 U.S. Top R&B;/Hip-Hop Albums, 3 U.S. Rap, 103 UK Albums Chart

* Singles: "The Time Is Now", "Bad Bad Man" (featuring Bumpy Knuckles), "Right Now"

Personal life

Cena writes left-handed. He is a fan of Japanese animation and has mentioned that his favorite animated movie is Fist of the North Star. He has also said he is a fan of the video game series Command & Conquer and noted that it was his favorite game. Cena is also a fan of the Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, and Boston Celtics.

While promoting his 2009 film, 12 Rounds, Cena announced his engagement to his girlfriend Elizabeth Huberdeau. They were married on July 11, 2009.

In wrestling

Finishing moves

Attitude Adjustment (AA) / F–U (Fireman's carry transitioned into either a standing takeover or a powerslam, sometimes from the second rope) – WWE

Killswitch (OVW) / Proto–Bomb (UPW) (Belly to back suplex lift twisted into a modified side slam) – OVW / UPW; used as a regular move in WWE

STF – 2000–2002, 2010

Fisherman suplex (Running delayed fist drop, with theatrics)

Running leaping shoulder block (Running neck snap to a bent–over opponent)

Twisting belly to belly suplex

Nicknames

"The Doctor of Thuganomics"

"The Champ" (as either the WWE Champion or the World Heavyweight Champion)

* "The Chain Gang Commander"

"The Chain Gang Soldier"

OVW Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Rico Constantino

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

PWI Feud of the Year (2006)

PWI Match of the Year (2007)

PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year (2003)

PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (2004, 2005, 2007)

PWI Wrestler of the Year (2006, 2007)

PWI ranked #1 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2006 and 2007

Ultimate Pro Wrestling

UPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

World Wrestling Entertainment

World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Shawn Michaels (1) and Batista (1)

WWE Championship (7 times)

WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with David Otunga

* Royal Rumble (2008)

* Slammy Award winner - 2009 and 2010 Superstar of the Year

Slammy Award for Holy %&^*%&* Move of the Year (2010)

'''Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards

* Wrestler of the Year (2007)

* Best Box Office Draw (2007)

* Best on Interviews (2007)

* Most Charismatic (2006–2009)

Most Charismatic of the Decade (2000–2009)

* Best Gimmick (2003)

References

Further reading

External links

John Cena at WWE.com

Professional wrestling record for John Cena from The Internet Wrestling Database

John Cena's Five Questions

John Cena at Online World of Wrestling

Category:1977 births Category:American film actors Category:American football offensive linemen Category:Springfield Pride football players Category:American professional wrestlers Category:American professional wrestlers of Italian descent Category:Columbia Records artists Category:Drifting drivers Category:Formula D drivers Category:Living people Category:People from Essex County, Massachusetts Category:People from Tampa, Florida Category:Rappers from Florida Category:Springfield College - Massachusetts alumni

Name	Héctor Lavoe
Alias	El Cantante de los Cantantes
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Héctor Juan Pérez Martínez
Born	September 30, 1946 Ponce, Puerto Rico
Died	June 29, 1993 Manhattan, New York City
Genre	Salsa, Bolero
Years active	1968–1993
Label	Fania Records
Url	http://www.hectorlavoe.com/

Héctor Juan Pérez Martínez (September 30, 1946 – June 29, 1993), better known as Héctor Lavoe, was a Puerto Rican salsa singer. Lavoe was born and raised in the Machuelito sector of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Early in his life, he attended a local music school and developed an interest inspired by Jesús Sánchez Erazo. He was inspired early in life by his musically-talented family. His grandfather Don Juan Martínez was a singer of controversial songs, which often went from vocal conflict to physical confrontations. His uncle was a well-known tres player in Ponce. He moved permanently to New York on May 3, 1963, against his father's wishes, since an older brother had moved to the city and later died of a drug overdose. It would take many more years before Héctor was able to reconcile with his father.

Arrival in New York City

He was met by his sister Priscilla upon arrival in New York. The first thing he did in New York was visit El Barrio, New York's "Spanish Harlem."

The album's success significantly transformed both Colón's and Lavoe's lives.

While enjoying his newly found success, Héctor became severely addicted to narcotics, namely heroin, and prescription drugs. His addiction resulted in him showing up late for gigs, and he eventually did not show up to some scheduled performances at all. Although Colón would eventually cut ties with him, he tried to help Lavoe seek assistance to try to quit his drug habits. circa 1985.]]

Lavoe's lack of professionalism was often neutralized by an affable onstage presence, very much resembling that of a stand-up comedian.

The Colón band had other major hits, such as "Calle Luna, Calle Sol", and the santería influenced "Aguanilé"; a Pacheco song recorded in the studio by the band, "Mi Gente", was better known in a live version Lavoe later recorded with the Fania All Stars.

Lavoe goes solo

In 1973, Willie Colón stopped touring to dedicate himself to record production and other business enterprises. Lavoe was given the opportunity of becoming bandleader to his own orchestra; The controversial jíbaro song, "Joven contra viejo", featured Lavoe and Daniel Santos settling their age-based differences on-stage not without a heavy dose of humor and (yet again) Yomo Toro's cuatro music as a backdrop. Another major Christmas hit on Billboard Greatest hits for tropical genre in 1979 includes a song from singer/composer Miguel Poventud "Una Pena En La Navidad" in the same album titled "Feliz Navidad". Lavoe's final hit, "El Rey de la Puntualidad" (The King of Punctuality), is a humorous takeoff on Lavoe's constant tardiness and occasional absenteeism from shows.

Héctor died on June 29, 1993, at a hospital in New York City. The cause of death was diagnosed as “a complication caused by AIDS." He was initially buried in a plot in Saint Raymond's Cemetery in the Bronx. In June 2002, the bodies of both Lavoe and his son (who died in 1987) were exhumed per his family's request. They were reburied in his native Ponce, along with his widow Nilda who died a few weeks beforehand. Lavoe's remains are at the Cementerio Civil de Ponce (Ponce Civil Cemetery), at the end of Eduardo Ruberte Street in Barrio Segundo.

Posthumous recognitions

Lavoe's life has served as inspiration for two biographical films. The first, El Cantante, is produced by two of the most prominent celebrities in the musical genre: salsa artist Marc Anthony, stars as Lavoe, and Jennifer Lopez as Hector's wife, Nilda (known as "Puchi" by close friends). Salsa singer La India was also producing her own biopic of Lavoe's life, entitled The Singer, with actor Raul Carbonell in the lead role. This movie's production was suspended in August 2008, after the director, Anthony Felton, reported that the budget destined for the project had reached its limit. In response, Carbonell noted that he would reconsider his involvement in the production if the work is resumed.

Besides these films, an off-Broadway production of his life titled ¿Quién mató a Héctor Lavoe? (Who Killed Hector Lavoe?) was a success in the late 1990s. It starred singer Domingo Quiñones in the lead role. Carbonell's decision to distance himself from the film was directly influenced by his involvement in a tour of Quien Mato a Héctor Lavoe? in Puerto Rico, which was undergoing negotiations to be presented in Peru and Colombia. An urban tribute album was released in late 2007 and was performed by several reggaeton artists such as Don Omar while resampling Lavoe's voice.

Discography

As vocalist of the Willie Colón Orchestra

{{ external media | align = center | audio1 = You may listen to Héctor Lavoe sing La Murga here. | audio2 = }} (on Fania Records.) El Malo (1967) The Hustler (1968) De Ti Depende (1976)

Fania All Stars: Salsa

Celia Cruz with the Fania All Stars Live In Africa. Recorded live at Kinshasa, Zaire as part of the concerts of "The Rumble in the Jungle" fight between Muhammad Ali & George Foreman.

El Cantante

References

External links

Fania Records Official Site

Hector Lavoe Official Site

Hector Lavoe at Find A Grave

Hector Lavoe at the Internet Movie Database

August 2004 New York Times article on Hector's legacy and biographical film

See also

List of Famous Puerto Ricans

List of Puerto Rican songwriters

Music of Puerto Rico

Category:1946 births Category:1993 deaths Category:Puerto Rican singers Category:Puerto Rican male singers Category:Maracas players Category:Salsa musicians Category:Spanish-language singers Category:People from Ponce, Puerto Rico Category:AIDS-related deaths in New York Category:Fania Records artists

Name	Eddie Guerrero
Names	Black Tiger II He wrestled in Mexico and Japan for several major professional wrestling promotions. In the United States,
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- style	"text-align:center;"
- style	"text-align:center;"
- style	"text-align:center;"
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Category:1967 births Category:2005 deaths Category:Deaths from myocardial infarction Category:American professional wrestlers of Mexican descent Category:Mexican professional wrestlers Category:People from El Paso, Texas

Category:WWE Hall of Fame

Name	Dwight Howard
Height ft	6 | height_in = 11 | weight_lb = 265
Team	Orlando Magic
Number	12
Position	Center
Birth date	December 08, 1985
Birth place	Atlanta, Georgia
High school	Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy
Nationality	American
Draft round	1
Draft pick	1
Draft year	2004
Team	Orlando Magic
Draft team	Orlando Magic
Career start	2004
Highlights

Dwight David Howard (born December 8, 1985) is an American basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Howard, who usually plays center but can also play power forward, had an outstanding high school career at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy. He chose to forgo college and entered the 2004 NBA Draft, and was selected first overall by the Magic. A four-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA team selection, three-time All-Defensive member, and two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Howard has been ranked consistently as one of the best in the league in rebounds, blocks, field goal percentage and free throw attempts, and has set numerous franchise and league records. He has led the Magic to three division titles and one conference title, and he was the winner of the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. In the 2008 Olympics, he was the starting center for Team USA, which went on to win the gold medal.

Before he was drafted in 2004, Howard said that he wanted to use his NBA career and Christian faith to "raise the name of God within the league and throughout the world". In November 2009, he was named one of the 10 finalists for the Jefferson Awards for Public Service, which awards athletes for their charitable work.

Early life

Howard was born in Atlanta, Georgia to Dwight Sr. and Sheryl Howard and into a family with strong athletic connections. His father is a Georgia State Trooper and serves as Athletic Director of Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, a private academy with one of the best high school basketball programs in the country, while his mother played on the inaugural women's basketball team at Morris Brown College. Despite his large frame, Howard was quick and versatile enough to play the guard position. He was also co-MVP (with J. R. Smith) of the McDonald's High School All-American Game that year. Howard joined a depleted Magic squad that had finished with only 21 victories the previous season; further, the club had just lost perennial NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady. setting several NBA records in the process. He became the youngest player in NBA history to average a double double in the regular season.

Howard reported to camp for his second NBA campaign having added 20 pounds of muscle during the off-season. He was selected to play on the Sophomore Team in the 2006 Rookie Challenge during the All-Star break,

Howard took another step forward as the franchise player for Orlando in the 2006–07 season, and for the third consecutive season he played in all 82 regular season games. Less than a week later, he recorded a career-high 32 points against the Toronto Raptors. A highlight was his game-winning alley-oop off an inbound at the buzzer against the San Antonio Spurs at Amway Arena on February 9. As the push for playoff spots intensified, Howard was instrumental, recording another career-high 35 points against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 14, 2007. Under his leadership, the Magic qualified for the 2007 NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2003 as the number eight seed in the Eastern Conference. However, the Magic were swept by the eventual Eastern Conference finalist Detroit Pistons in the first round. Howard averaged 17.6 points and 12.3 rebounds per game, and finished first in the NBA in total rebounds, second in field goal percentage, and ninth in blocks. He was further recognized as one of the best players in the league when he was named to the All-NBA Third Team at the end of the 2006–07 campaign.

Leader of consecutive division champions

of the Los Angeles Lakers]] Howard continued posting impressive numbers in the 2007–08 season; with free agent Rashard Lewis added to the ranks alongisde Hedo Türkoğlu to provide an extra offensive spark, this was the Magic's best season yet. Howard's strong and consistent play ensured that he was named as a starter for the Eastern Conference All-Star team, and by the time the mid-season break arrived, he was leading the league in double doubles (he concluded the season with a league-high 69) and had recorded 20 points and 20 rebounds in a game on five occasions (eight by the season's end). On February 16, 2008, he won the 2008 NBA slam dunk contest by receiving 78% of the fan's votes via text messaging or online voting; in that contest, he performed a series of innovative dunks said to have rejuvenated the contest, including donning a Superman cape for one of the dunks. Howard led the Magic to their first division title in 12 years and to the third seed for the 2008 NBA Playoffs, Howard's series total of 91 rebounds was also greater than the total rebounds collected by the entire Toronto frontcourt. In the next round against the Pistons, the Magic lost the first two road games before Howard's 20 point/12 rebound performance in Game 3 salvaged a home win. In that same week, the center was named to the All-NBA First Team for the first time, Detroit played without their star point guard Chauncey Billups for Games 4 and 5, but Orlando was unable to capitalize on that and lost the series 4–1 to the veteran playoffs team.

The 2008–09 campaign began well for Howard. Ten games into the season, the center was leading the league in blocks per game (4.2) and even recorded his first triple-double: 30 points, 19 rebounds and 10 blocks. At the halfway point of the season, Howard was leading the league in rebounds and blocks, and was among the league leaders in field goal percentage. He garnered a record 3.1 million votes to earn the starting berth on the Eastern Conference team for the 2009 NBA All-Star game. On March 25, 2009, Howard led Orlando to its second straight Southeast Division title with 11 games of the regular season left to play, and eventually the third seed for the 2009 NBA Playoffs with a 59–23 record. On April 21, 2009, he became the youngest player ever to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, achieving a goal he had set for himself before the start of the season. and a week later, to the All-NBA First Team. In the second round of the playoffs against the defending champions Boston, the Magic blew a lead in Game 5 and Howard publicly questioned coach Stan Van Gundy's tactics and said that he should be given the ball more; in Game 6, the center posted 23 points and 22 rebounds to force the series into seven games. The Magic went on to defeat Boston, and then defeated Cleveland—which was led by league MVP LeBron James—4–2 in the Eastern Conference Finals. Howard had a playoffs career-high 40 points to go with his 14 rebounds in the deciding Game 6, leading Orlando to its first NBA Finals in 14 years. The Los Angeles Lakers took the first two home games to establish a 2–0 lead in the Finals, before a home win by the Magic brought the score to 2–1. In Game 4, despite Howard putting up 21 rebounds and a Finals-record of 9 blocks in a game, the Magic lost in overtime. The Lakers went on to win Game 5, and the NBA Finals.

The Magic went into the 2009–10 season with one major roster change: Türkoğlu departed for the Toronto Raptors, while eight-time NBA All-Star Vince Carter arrived from the New Jersey Nets. As with the previous two seasons, the Magic got off to a strong start, winning 17 of their first 21 games, setting a franchise record in the process. He also picked up two Conference Player of the Week awards. On January 21, 2010, Howard was named as the starting center for the East in the 2010 NBA All-Star Game. Not long after the Magic completed the regular season with 59 wins and their third consecutive division title, Howard won the Defensive Player of the Year Award for the second straight year. He became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in blocks and rebounds in the same season twice—and for two years in a row. He started in eight of those nine games, averaging 8.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg and led the team in shooting .778 from the field. In the finals, he made all seven of his shots and scored 20 points as the USA defeated Argentina to win the gold medal.

On June 23, 2008, Howard was named as one of the members of the 12-man squad representing the United States in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. With Howard starting as center, Team USA won all of its games en route to the gold medal, breaking their drought of gold medals dating back to the 2000 Olympics. Howard averaged 10.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in the tournament.

Player profile

Howard is considered the "franchise player" of the Magic. He is the NBA's leading rebounder (also leading the league in 2007–08 and 2008–09); to illustrate, in a game against the Golden State Warriors on January 10, 2007, his 25 rebounds for the Magic outnumbered the total number of boards grabbed by the starting five of the Warriors. Howard's rebounding is in part facilitated by his extraordinary athleticism; his vertical leap is estimated at almost 40 inches, rare for a player of his size (6'11", 265 pounds). He demonstrated this skill memorably in the 2007 Slam Dunk Contest during the NBA All-Star Weekend, during which he completed an alley oop dunk from teammate Jameer Nelson and slapped a sticker onto the backboard which reached . The sticker showed an image of his own smiling face with a handwritten "All things through Christ Phil: 4:13," a paraphrase of Philippians 4:13. As of April 2010, Howard's career average of 12.7 rebounds per game (in the regular season) ranks 13th in NBA history. The center has also remained largely injury-free in his NBA career, playing in 351 consecutive games before missing his first game.

Howard's abilities and powerful physique have drawn attention from fellow NBA All-Stars. Tim Duncan once remarked in 2007: "[Howard] is so developed... He has so much promise and I am glad that I will be out of the league when he is peaking." Kevin Garnett echoed those sentiments: "[Howard] is a freak of nature, man... I was nowhere near that physically talented. I wasn't that gifted, as far as body and physical presence."

While many sports pundits have been rating Howard as one of the top young prospects in the NBA since 2006, Howard has some weaknesses in his game. Offensively, his shooting range remains limited; he is also mistake-prone, having led the NBA in total number of turnovers in the 2006–07 season. Like many centers, he has a low free throw conversion percentage. Also in that season, outside of layups and dunks, his shooting percentage was only 31.6%. He has stated he believes in reaching out to his community and fans and thus contributes substantially in the field of philanthropy. Together with his parents, Howard also established the Dwight D. Howard Foundation Inc. in 2004. The Foundation provides scholarships for students who want to attend his alma mater, Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, and grants to Lovell Elementary School and Memorial Middle School in Orlando, Florida. For his contributions in the Central Florida community, Howard received in 2005 the Rich and Helen De Vos Community Enrichment Award.

Elsewhere, Howard appeared as a special guest on an episode of the ABC series that aired 2 April 2006, in which Ty Pennington and his team built a new home and ministry offices for Sadie Holmes, who operates a social services ministry in the Orlando area.

Howard and Royce Reed, a former dancer for the team, have a son, Braylon.

See also

List of career achievements by Dwight Howard

List of National Basketball Association season rebounding leaders

List of National Basketball Association season blocks leaders

List of National Basketball Association players with 10 or more blocks in a game

Notes

External links

Dwight Howard Official Site

Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:African American basketball players

Category:American basketball players Category:American Christians Category:Basketball players at the 2008 Summer Olympics Category:Gatorade National Basketball Player of the Year Category:Male basketball centers Category:McDonald's High School All-Americans Category:National Basketball Association high school draftees Category:NBA Slam Dunk Contest champions Category:Olympic basketball players of the United States Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States Category:Orlando Magic draft picks Category:Orlando Magic players Category:Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball) Category:People from Atlanta, Georgia Category:Power forwards (basketball) Category:United States men's national basketball team members Category:NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award winners

Name	Blake Griffin
Caption	Blake Griffin during his tenure at Oklahoma.
Height ft	6
Height in	10
Weight lb	251
Team	Los Angeles Clippers
Number	32
Position	Power forward
Birth date	March 16, 1989
Birth place	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
High school	Oklahoma Christian School (Edmond, Oklahoma)
College	Oklahoma
Nationality	American
Draft round	1
Draft pick	1
Draft team	Los Angeles Clippers
Draft year	2009
Teams
Career start	2009
Highlights

Blake Austin Griffin (born March 16, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Griffin had an outstanding high school career at Oklahoma Christian School, winning state titles each of his four years under his father who was the head coach. He played college basketball for the University of Oklahoma Sooners and was awarded numerous accolades in his second year including the Naismith College Player of the Year, Oscar Robertson Trophy and the John Wooden Award. After two seasons at Oklahoma, Griffin left college to enter the 2009 NBA Draft where he was selected first overall by the Clippers. Listed as a power forward, he is known as one of the NBA's most prolific dunkers with outstanding leaping ability.

Early life

Childhood

Griffin was born on March 16, 1989 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Gail and Tommy Griffin. Griffin and his older brother, Taylor Griffin, were home-schooled by their mother from first grade until Taylor was in the tenth grade and Griffin was in eighth. He grew up playing basketball games in his driveway with his older brother and was a fan of the Chicago Bulls. Growing up, he was good friends with Sam Bradford of the St. Louis Rams and played on the same Athletes First AAU basketball team along with Xavier Henry of the Memphis Grizzlies. Griffin’s parents owned a trophy company that Bradford’s father would use and Bradford’s father owned a gym where Griffin and his brother Taylor played basketball. Apart from basketball, he also played baseball, preferring to play as first baseman, soccer and football as a wide receiver, safety and a tight end.

High school

Griffin and his brother Taylor attended Oklahoma Christian School for high school where they played under their father who was the head coach. They played together during the 2003-04 and 2004-05 high school seasons, winning two state high school basketball championships together. In his sophomore year, the Saints repeated as Class 3A state champions and finished the season with a 24–2 record, while averaging 13.6 points per game in what was his final high school season with his brother. He was named to the Little All-City All-State team and his brother was named The Oklahoman Player of the Year. After the season, his brother went off to college to play for the Oklahoma Sooners. During the summer of 2005, Griffin played against Kevin Durant and Ty Lawson while playing for the Athletes First AAU team.

As a junior, he averaged 21.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists, leading the Saints through the playoffs and earning a berth in the Class 2A championship game, beating Washington High School for a third straight state championship and was named the state tournament MVP. He gained national attention as a high school junior and caught the attention of the new head coach for the Oklahoma Sooners, Jeff Capel, who first heard of Griffin through his brother Taylor.

During his senior year, he averaged 26.8 points, 15.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.9 blocks per game while leading the team to a 26–3 record. On March 10, 2007, he played his final high school game in the state title game against Pawnee High School. He was named the Player of the Year by both the Tulsa World and The Oklahoman and named a Oklahoma Boys All-State First Team, EA Sports Second Team and a Parade Third Team All-American. He was ranked as the nation's #13 high school senior by HoopScoop, #20 by scout.com and #23 by rivals.com, and as the country's third-best power forward by HoopScoop, sixth by rivals.com and the seventh by scout.com. At the McDonald's All-American game in Louisville, Kentucky he won the Powerade Jam Fest slam dunk contest.

College career

After accepting a scholarship to play for the University of Oklahoma Sooners over University of Connecticut, Duke University, University of Florida, University of Illinois, University of Kansas, Michigan State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and in-state Oklahoma State University, he was one of the highest rated and most decorated recruits ever at Oklahoma. He ranked ninth in scoring, fourth in rebounding and third in field goal percentage in Big 12.

Less than two months after injuring his left knee, he injured his right knee in a home victory against Texas A&M;. The injury this time was torn cartilage, and he had arthroscopic surgery on March 2, 2008. but was back on the court a week after the injury with 14 points and 8 rebounds in 28 minutes versus the Missouri Tigers, a win for the Sooners on their home floor. He was expected to be a lottery pick in the 2008 NBA Draft but decided to forgo the NBA draft and return to college for a second season to give himself time to mature physically and make Oklahoma a contender for the NCAA championship. In the third game of the season against the Davidson Wildcats, he scored 25 points and grabbed 21 rebounds, after which he scored 35 points and 21 rebounds against Gardner–Webb, becoming the first player in Big 12 history to record back-to-back games of at least 20 points and 20 rebounds.

On February 21, he received a concussion in a loss to the Texas Longhorns, when he caught an inadvertent shot to the face from the open hand of Texas center Dexter Pittman. He sat out the second half during the Sooners loss with a bloody nose. After sitting out the next game, a loss to Kansas Jayhawks, Griffin was cleared by the medical staff and returned a week later to get 20 points and 19 rebounds in a victory over the Texas Tech Red Raiders. The Sooners fell short to the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Big 12 Tournament. In the NCAA Tournament, he scored 33 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in the second-round win over the Michigan Wolverines, just the second player in the 2000s decade with at least 30 points and 15 rebounds in the NCAA tournament. However, the Sooners lost to the North Carolina Tar Heels in the South Regional final.

Griffin averaged 22.7 points, 14.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game during the regular season and earned All-American First Team honors. He led the Big 12 in scoring and rebounds, and recorded at least 20 points and 15 rebounds 15 times, which is a Big 12 record. With 30 double-doubles during the season, he was one short of the NCAA record of 31 set by David Robinson in 1986–1987. His total of 504 rebounds where the most in a season by an NCAA Division I player since Indiana State's Larry Bird had 505 in 1978–79 and his rebounding average of 14.4 was the highest since Wake Forest's Tim Duncan averaged 14.7 in 1996–97.

Towards the end of his sophomore season, Griffin was awarded numerous accolades. He was a unanimous choice by voters in all nine geographical districts for the Oscar Robertson Trophy and was named Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year, receiving 66 of the 71 national media panel members' votes. Griffin was announced as the winner of the prestigious Naismith College Player of the Year on April 5 in Detroit. Three days after announcing that he would turn pro, he won the John Wooden Award as college basketball's top player. A press conference announcing his decision was aired nationally on ESPNews. He was selected as the first overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2009 NBA Draft. Griffin played for the Clippers' Summer League Team and was named Summer League MVP. In their final preseason game, he injured his kneecap as he landed after a dunk. The day before the 2009–10 season started it was confirmed that Griffin had a stress fracture in his left knee, delaying his NBA debut for seven weeks. Griffin had surgery on his broken left kneecap and it was reported that he would miss the rest of the season.

After missing the entire 2009–10 season, Griffin was still considered a rookie during the 2010-11 season. In his debut for the Clippers against the Portland Trail Blazers, Griffin scored 20 points and registered 14 rebounds. At the beginning of the season, Baron Davis and Chris Kaman were out with injuries and the Clippers got off to a slow start, losing thirteen of their first fourteen games. On November 20, 2010, he set a Clippers record for most points scored by a rookie with 44 in a home loss to the New York Knicks. Griffin was named the NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month for November and December. He also set a franchise record for most consecutive double-doubles with 23 in a home game against the Golden State Warriors. On February 19, 2011, he will participate in the NBA's Sprite Slam Dunk Contest.

NBA career statistics

Regular season

|- | style="text-align:left;"| 2010–11 | style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Clippers | 34 || 34 || 37.1 || .523 || .667 || .588 || 12.5 || 3.2 || .7 || .6 || 21.7 |- | style="text-align:left;"| Career | style="text-align:left;"| | 34 || 34 || 37.1 || .523 || .667 || .588 || 12.5 || 3.2 || .7 || .6 || 21.7

Awards

McDonald's All-American (2007) Oscar Robertson Trophy (2009) Unanimous AP All American (2009) Sports Illustrated Player of the Year (2009) Sporting News Player of the Year (2009) Athlon Sports Player of the Year (2009) NBA Western Conference T-Mobile Rookie of the Month - November 2010 He started a fundraiser called Dunking for Dollars, in which he donates $100 to fight childhood obesity for every dunk he makes.

See also

2009 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans

List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders

References

External links

Official Site

Blake Griffin at NBA.com

Blake Griffin at ESPN.com

Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:American basketball players Category:African American basketball players Category:Basketball players from Oklahoma Category:Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball players Category:McDonald's High School All-Americans Category:Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball) Category:People from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Category:Power forwards (basketball) Category:Los Angeles Clippers draft picks Category:Los Angeles Clippers players